24 



HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. 



[Jan, 



reported that the potatoes grown on the sulphate were 

 whiter, more mealy and better flavored than the others. In 

 1893 they all reported that they could see no great difference 

 between them. In 1804 and 1895 the potatoes grown upon 

 the sulphate were with one or two exceptions reported to be 

 superior to those grown on the muriate, in color, mealiness 

 and flavor. Those reporting otherwise stated that they could 

 see no great difierence. In 1894 the head of one family said : 

 " If you have potatoes like A^o. 1 [grown on sulphate] I 

 would like to get my winter's supply of you ; but I would 

 not take No. 2." The season of 1893 was exceptionally hot 

 and dry, as was also that of 1894 ; but the soil used in 1894 

 was deeper, and the crop suffered comparatively little from 

 drought. 



Moisture and starch determinations in samples of potatoes 

 grown respectively on the sulphate and the muriate have 

 been made every season. The results are shown below for 

 the first three years. They are not given for the present 

 season, because but two samples were taken : one the muri- 

 ate potatoes, where the fertilizers were put on broadcast ; 

 the other the sulphate potatoes, where the fertilizers were 

 put in the drill. 



It will be noticed that in three out of the six possible com- 

 parisons the percentage of water is less and that of starch is 

 greater in the potatoes grown on the sulphate of potash, and 

 that the diflerences are considerable. In those cases where 

 the results were favorable to the muriate, the differences as 

 a rule are small. The averages for the two fertilizers are : 

 sulphate of potash potatoes, water, 78.11 per cent. ; starch, 



